Massey welcomes new funding for Asian languages

An
announcement that the Government will invest $10 million
over five years to increase the provision of Asian language
teaching in schools has been welcomed by Massey
University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Distinguished Professor Paul
Spoonley says Education Minister Hekia Parata’s
announcement yesterday is important in preparing young New
Zealanders to be leaders in the new global
economy.

“Given the need for New Zealand to trade
into non-English speaking countries, the ability to speak a
range of languages has become a priority,” he said.

“The history of New Zealand in providing language
teaching in schools is patchy, partly because it hasn’t
been seen as a priority and partly because New
Zealanders don’t have a strong history of
multilingualism in their own homes and communities.
That’s now changing, with significant non-English
immigrant communities. But much more needs to be
done.”

Ms Parata’s statement says the money will
be used to create a contestable fund where schools can apply
for funding to establish new Mandarin, Japanese or
Korean language programmes, or expand or enhance
existing Asian language programmes.

Professor Spoonley
says his college’s School of Humanities – which offers
Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and French language programmes at
its Manawatū and Albany campuses, and by distance learning
– is keen to work both with the Government and with
schools to encourage languages as an important part of
the curriculum with both personal and national
benefits.

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